Tattoo bill clears first hurdle in the House

Updated 10:58 pm, Thursday, May 9, 2013

HARTFORD -- Connecticut tattoo artists would have to take a training program, pass an examination and pay $250 license fees under legislation approved Thursday night in the state House of Representatives.

The bill passed 122-13 after a nearly hourlong debate.

If the bill passes the Senate, it will be signed into law July 1 by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.

Rep. Susan Johnson, D-Windham, co-chairman of the Public Health Committee, said that concern about blood-borne diseases, allergies to ink and the need for sterile equipment contributed to the desire for the new public policy.

"This is a very good public health bill," she said.

But the edgy body art industry -- one of the last careers where apprentices learn at the side of veteran inkers -- says that since local health ordinances already cover their shops, the bill is merely a way to generate new revenue for the state.

"I'm sure that it's a way for the state to make money," Mathews said in a phone interview Thursday. "Tattooing has become so mainstream, somebody finally thought that they could license it."

Mathews said she knows some artists -- called "technicians" in the legislation -- who would dodge the requirements, but still work in the body art field through word-of-mouth.

"Hopefully, it won't put more tattoo artists underground," she said, adding that recently just as many women as men have patronized her Tamarack Avenue shop, which has been in Danbury for about 30 years.

Mathews said that traditionally, tattoo artists take on apprentices, to whom they teach the art and science of creating ink designs on human skin.

According to nonpartisan research on the bill, citing six-year-old state statistics, there are about 200 tattoo artists who work in about 35 shops throughout the state.

Connecticut, which requires a physician's oversight for tattoo operations, is one of only nine states that don't license tattoo artists.

If signed by the governor, starting July 1 the Department of Public Health will create requirements, provide for temporary permits and create a training program with the cooperation of the state Department of Labor.

The DPH would have the power to revoke and suspend licenses and issue civil penalties. The license program would take effect Oct. 1 and a training program would have to be in place by next January.

The DPH would also be required to set health standards, inspect tattoo shops and take enforcement action against unlicensed artists.

Rep. Richard A. Smith, R-New Fairfield, said that while he's in favor of higher standards, he's concerned that the $200 renewal fee every two years might hurt businesses.